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AMIR:
Asphalt Multi Integrated Roller
The Need
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Conventional
rolling equipment, such as steel vibratory rollers, while capable of achieving a specified
density, results in construction induced cracks. These cracks are often visually apparent,
and they are due to a mismatch between the geometry and relative rigidity of the roller
and the asphalt mix. |
AMIR-1 prototype
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The Technology
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Roads damage and cracking are not only caused
by cold weather since the problems have been also seen on roads of countries with warm
climates, but they are also caused by bad quality compaction. The traditional compactors are built with round, pin-shaped rollers made of
very stiff material, which is the reason for the cracks that take palace during
compacting. This compaction process will create very thin cracks in the asphalt pavement
and when the temperature drops, the cracks open up. If water enters the cracks, freezes
and the asphalt will break apart.
Asphalt Multi Integrated Roller (AMIR) was developed to
compact asphalt and to prevent the surface cracking of pavement. AMIR was developed by
replacing the cylindrical stiff shape with a moving flat softer plate which results in a
crack free asphalt layer and more uniform compaction along and across the mat.
The special type of rubber material used in AMIR is softer
and gentler, yet still applies the same energy due to a much longer period of contact.
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Visible cracks pavement rolled by conventional rollers
Free-crack pavement rolled by AMIR-1 prototype
New Super Compactor 'HIPAC'
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The
Benefits
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Comparative test results performed on asphalt
specimens from conventional and AMIR compacted sections. These results show quite
significant improvements in density, tensile strength, fatigue life and resistance to
moisture damage. AMIR can replace existing three
different rollers, the vibratory, pneumatic and static steel rollers while achieving the
same if not better density with less number passes than conventional rollers. AMIR also
does not require very highly trained operators, it need only one operator. These features
are believed can save big number of money and very beneficial to contractors. |
Status
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Since 1987, a number of
integrated field trials and laboratory experiments have been carried out in Egypt, Sweden,
Canada and most recently Australia. Extensive testing of cores, beams and slabs, recovered
from field tests, provided data on density, voids, etc., plus tensile strength, stripping
and fatigue resistance. AMIR
compactor was originated in Ottawa, Canada and has been used in Egypt, Canada, Sweden and
Australia. It is expected to be used to compact asphalt mixes all over the world. Two
companies from Australia modified and upgraded AMIR under the name 'HIPAC' and will be
selling the new roller world wide by next year.
Construction
Innovation Forum honored AMIR as one of the winners of 1999 Nova Award. |
Barriers
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When this fact sheet is being
developed, AMIR is not yet available in the market. |
Points of Contact
- A.O. Abd El Halim, Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Phone: (613) 520-5789, Fax:
(613) 520-3951, Email: ahalim@ccs.carleton.ca
References
- 1999 Nova Award Nominations, The Nova Award,
Construction Innovation Forum, Inc., October 1998
- AMIR, The Homepage of A.O. Abd El Halim, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carleton
University, http://civeng.carleton.ca/~ahalim/amir.html
Disclaimer Statement
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Neither the Construction
Industry Institute nor Purdue University in any way endorses this
technology or represents
that the information presented can be relied upon without further investigation. |
MA05
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